Spring has sprung - sort of . . .

Fickle.  That's what it is.  One day it's 60 degrees, the next, 45 and raining.  I'm beginning to feel a bit schizophrenic!

The brood is busy - as usual.  Track is in full swing, and on a sunny day there's nothing like sitting in the stands watching the kids race.  Splendid.  The surface of the track is so nice and squishy - it makes me want to sneak in and join them.  Yeah, I know, I'd get left behind out of the blocks - but still - one can dream - eh?!

Two weeks til the dance recital.  Whew!  India's been sewing full time - making over 800 costumes as well as  props. Crazy.  But I can't wait to see the performances.  In one of India's tap classes, a girl's family moved and so there was a missing dancer.  Wouldn't be so bad, but part of the dance they have partners and it would have looked a bit silly with one person without a partner - and it just so happened to be Ezra's partner.  So, call in the recruits.  Judah (who is being bribed heavily) was taught the dance in a couple weeks and so he's going to be in the recital!  How fun is that?!    I am so excited.   I LOVE watching the dances.  3 performances and 2 dress rehearsals and every night is packed.  It's quite the production I have to say.
Hey - it's the prairie - we take whatever cultural event we can get!

Boy - there are a lot of disasters lately - wouldn't you say?  We have the worst flooding in history here, and it's happening all around us too.  Farmland is swamped, homes are flooded, roads are blocked.  And then the tornadoes, the wild fires - and that's just the US.  You then have all the earthquakes and tsunamis all over the world - kind of seems like God's a little ticked off.   Maybe we need a little revival in the land . . .

Sad news - a dear friend who's son just got married less than 1 year ago go into a car accident and his young wife did not survive.  The son was in critical condition but has been steadily improving - which is an absolute  miracle.  Please pray for Cole as he tries to heal both his body and his spirit.  We are so sad for his loss, yet we rejoice in his recovery.  God is sovereign . . .

Happier news - Cinco de Mayo is upon us!  Don your sombreros, break out the beans and rice and throw yourselves a fiesta!  Even though we have beans and rice nearly every other day it seems - it's still a great excuse for a party!  Ole' amigos!!

1400 miles in three days . . .

So, we drive to Minneapolis.  We dine.  We meet some friends.  The boys go to bed and India and I we sit in the lobby of the hotel visiting some friends and get caught in the middle of a police raid complete with pepper spray, SWAT teams, raving lunatic party-goers, and gun shots.   We hide in the gift shop til the police clear the area, escort our friends to their car and the manager escorts India and I to our room via the service elevator.  We survived - Thank you God.   I only wish this was an April Fool's prank.  It was not. (And this is why we live in the country in the prairie in the middle of no where.)
We slept poorly - well - to say we slept poorly indicates some sleeping did occur.  It did not.  Not for India and I anyway.  We were just a wee bit stressed out.
Sat.  We roll out of bed to watch Judah swim and swim well.  The tee shirt and new flip flops are really cool.
India and I drive another 250 miles so she can take a ballet exam.  We get a smoothie and some Culver's fries and turn around and drive back.  I did not consume near enough chocolate to keep me awake, and finding only country music at 11pm and driving in the rain didn't help - but we made it to the hotel  safe and sound.  Only because of God I swear.  My GPS (Judah) wasn't with me to tell me where to drive so I was just guessing as to which roads to take.  Amazing.   (And yes, she passed the test, so it was worth the trip)
Meanwhile, the boys ate and ate and watched basketball on tv while Gary slept.  (At least one of us slept.)
Sunday we roll out of bed and watch Judah swim and swim well.  And this is the one who hates to swim.
We eat.  We go the the King Tut exhibit.  Very disappointing.  We get two extra large pizza's to go and drive home.  In the rain and sleet.  Yippee.
So after over 1400 miles, too many detours, too many urban riots, too much bad food, too much chlorine, and not near enough sleep - we get back home.  And into my own bed!!!
What a weekend.
Not exactly what we all had in mind, but I guess it's just another story to tell the grandchildren.
And now it's track and dance recital season.  
On  and on it goes . . .